Psalm 72–73

Psalm 72

A Prayer for the King

Solomonic. ^q

¹God, give Your justice to the king

and Your righteousness to the king’s son. ^r

²He will judge Your people with righteousness

and Your afflicted ones with justice. ^s

³May the mountains bring prosperity ^tto the people

and the hills, righteousness. ^u

⁴May he vindicate the afflicted among the people,

help the poor,

and crush the oppressor. ^v

⁵May he continue ^wwhile the sun endures

and as long as the moon, throughout all generations. ^x

⁶May he be like rain that falls on the cut grass,

like spring showers that water the earth. ^y

⁷May the righteous ^zflourish in his days

and prosperity ^aabound

until the moon is no more. ^b

⁸May he rule from sea to sea

and from the Euphrates

to the ends of the earth. ^c

⁹May desert tribes kneel before him

and his enemies lick the dust. ^d

¹⁰May the kings of Tarshish

and the coasts and islands bring tribute,

the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts. ^e

¹¹Let all kings bow down to him,

all nations serve him. ^f

¹²For he will rescue the poor who cry out

and the afflicted who have no helper. ^g

¹³He will have pity on the poor and helpless

and save the lives of the poor. ^h

¹⁴He will redeem them from oppression and violence,

for their lives are ⁱprecious ^jin his sight. ^k

¹⁵May he live long!

May gold from Sheba be given to him.

May prayer be offered for him continually,

and may he be blessed all day long. ^l

¹⁶May there be plenty of grain in the land;

may it wave on the tops of the mountains.

May its crops be like Lebanon.

May people flourish in the cities

like the grass of the field. ^m

¹⁷May his name endure forever;

as long as the sun shines,

may his fame increase.

May all nations be blessed by him

and call him blessed. ⁿ

¹⁸May the Lord God, the God of Israel,

who alone does wonders, be praised. ^o

¹⁹May His glorious name be praised forever;

the whole earth is filled with His glory. ^p

Amen and amen.

²⁰The prayers of David son of Jesse are concluded. ^q

BOOK III

(Psalms 73–89)

Psalm 73

God’s Ways Vindicated

A psalm of Asaph. ^r

¹God is indeed good to Israel,

to the pure in heart. ^s

²But as for me, my feet almost slipped;

my steps nearly went astray. ^t

³For I envied the arrogant;

I saw the prosperity of the wicked. ^u

⁴They have an easy time until they die, ^v

and their bodies are well fed. ^wx

⁵They are not in trouble like others;

they are not afflicted like most people. ^y

⁶Therefore, pride is their necklace,

and violence covers them like a garment. ^z

⁷Their eyes bulge out from fatness;

the imaginations of their hearts run wild. ^a

⁸They mock, and they speak maliciously;

they arrogantly threaten oppression. ^b

⁹They set their mouths against heaven,

and their tongues strut across the earth. ^c

¹⁰Therefore His people turn to them ^d

and drink in their overflowing words. ^ef

¹¹The wicked say, “How can God know?

Does the Most High know everything?” ^g

¹²Look at them—the wicked!

They are always at ease,

and they increase their wealth. ^h

¹³Did I purify my heart

and wash my hands in innocence for nothing? ⁱ

¹⁴For I am afflicted all day long

and punished every morning. ^j

¹⁵If I had decided to say these things aloud,

I would have betrayed Your people. ^kl

¹⁶When I tried to understand all this,

it seemed hopeless ^mn

¹⁷until I entered God’s sanctuary.

Then I understood their destiny. ^o

¹⁸Indeed, You put them in slippery places;

You make them fall into ruin. ^p

¹⁹How suddenly they become a desolation!

They come to an end, swept away by terrors. ^q

²⁰Like one waking from a dream,

Lord, when arising, You will despise their image. ^r

²¹When I became embittered

and my innermost being ^swas wounded, ^t

²²I was stupid and didn’t understand;

I was an unthinking animal toward You. ^u

²³Yet I am always with You;

You hold my right hand. ^v

²⁴You guide me with Your counsel,

and afterward You will take me up in glory. ^wx

²⁵Who do I have in heaven but You?

And I desire nothing on earth but You. ^y

²⁶My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God is the strength ^zof my heart,

my portion forever. ^a

²⁷Those far from You will certainly perish;

You destroy all who are unfaithful to You. ^b

²⁸But as for me, God’s presence is my good.

I have made the Lord God my refuge,

so I can tell about all You do. ^c